Sudan: US, UN warn of risk of historic famine, call on both warring sides to stop blocking aid

The United Nations and the United States have warned of the risk of famine in Sudan, as both pressed the warring sides to end obstruction of aid for around 18 million people in the war-torn country who are already acutely hungry.

The latest UN reports indicate an escalating humanitarian crisis and the risk of famine in the north-east African country where around 9.2 million people have been displaced since mid-2023. The US on Friday (14 June) announced another $315 million for at least 18 million hungry Sudanese, including 3.6 million children who are acutely malnourished, warning that Sudan is facing a famine that could become worse than any the world has seen since Ethiopia 40 years ago. This comes as observers say that while aid deliveries continue to be blocked by the warring generals, arms supplies to both sides continue to flow in.

Repeated US-led efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have failed because the warring generals each think they can win on the ground. Yasir al-Atta, a senior officer of the Sudanese Army, has now stated that peace will only be achieved through the defeat of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “True peace will be achieved through the defeat and surrender of the Janjaweed, the return of foreign Arabs to their countries of origin, and the prosecution of all those who have committed crimes,” al-Atta emphasized. This comes after Sudanese Army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan recently rejected the request from the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, urging him to return to the negotiations in Jeddah.